Born Cassius Clay, Ali was called "The Greatest," and wasn't he? Nobody had ever seen anyone who could trash talk like Ali and back it up time and time again. After winning the Olympic Gold Medal in 1960 as a light heavyweight, Ali won the heavyweight title from Sonny Liston in 1964. He rose quickly to be the biggest name in sports, and there was nobody who could trash talk an opponent like him. Fans weren't paying to watch boxing; they were paying to watch Ali.

He made headlines in 1968 when he refused to be drafted into the U.S. Military, citing his religious beliefs and opposition to the Vietnam War. Ali held to his convictions as he was stripped of his title and was deprived of his peak athletic period.

Ali did come back and presided over the “Golden Age of Heavyweight Boxing”, defeating quality opponents and defining not only his sport but the era. If Ali fought, it was not just the biggest sporting event in America; it was the biggest sporting event in the world. The impact of Ali in and out of the ring is unquantifiable.

We are proud to nominate Muhammad Ali for the United States Athletic Hall of Fame.